O'Hare, Midway open for flights

O'Hare International and Midway airports reopened Thursday afternoon, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the all-clear for the nation's airports to reopen under tightened security restrictions.

O'Hare and Midway will only be offering limited service, however, and officials are urging passengers to call their individual airlines before heading to either airport.

Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta decided to allow flights again on a "case-by-case basis" after he met Wednesday with officials from the White House, law enforcement the aviation industry.

"But I must caution everyone that a system as diverse and complex as ours cannot be brought back up instantly," Mr. Mineta said in a statement. "We will reopen airports and resume flights on a case-by-case basis, only after they implement our more stringent levels of security. This phased approach will assure the highest levels of safety, which remains our primary goal."

Before being allowed to reopen, airports must clear their terminals of people and conduct thorough searches of all areas. Once reopened, airports will have more police officers, restricted access beyond the screening area and other restrictions including a new ban on knives, the FAA said.

Passengers will see increased security restrictions including a ban on curbside luggage check-in and off-airport passenger check-in.

Meanwhile, Elk Grove Township-based United Airlines said in a statement that it will not begin operations with scheduled flights until 8 a.m. (CDT) on Friday. At that time, it will begin operating with a significantly reduced schedule and plans to continue operating that reduced schedule through the weekend.

United had previously said it would resume flights by 6 p.m. Thursday. The airline said it has completed two of its diverted international flights, and plans to complete flights on Thursday that were diverted Sept. 11.

United also said customers scheduled to travel over the next two weeks may reschedule their flights without any penalties.